Bull Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Bull Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed ComparisonBull Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but German Shepherd is originated from Germany. Bull Terrier may grow 6 cm / 2 inches shorter than German Shepherd. Bull Terrier may weigh 15 kg / 33 pounds lesser than German Shepherd. Both Bull Terrier and German Shepherd has almost same life span. Bull Terrier may have less litter size than German Shepherd. Both Bull Terrier and German Shepherd requires Low maintenance.

History

bull terrier - historyThe Bull Terrier belongs to the Terrier group of dogs and this already tell you that he is highly energetic and that he is essentially intolerant of other pets.

They are hunters by nature. The Bull Terrier is known as the Gladiator of the canine world. This breed came about through English breeders of the late 19th century, crossing old fighting dogs which carried Bulldog blood with Terriers. It was in the 1850s that James Hinks of Birmingham in the West Midlands was the first person to standardise breed type for the Bull Terrier. Hinks wanted his dogs to be white, and breeding was designed to achieve this.

Because of medical problems with the all-white dogs, Ted Lyon introduced color, using the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and these became a separate variety. It is however, the white strain that is famous for pets as well as for show purposes.

​​

german shepherd - historyIn 1882 german shepherd was introduced in a show at Hanover. They were created by the cross breeding of the rural sheep dogs by a man named Max. In 1906 they were first exported to America. After that the breed became very popular in UK.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
United Kingdom
Germany
Height Male:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
61 - 67 cm
24 - 27 inches
Height Female:
49 - 61 cm
19 - 25 inches
55 - 61 cm
21 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
24 - 29 kg
52 - 64 pounds
34 - 44 kg
74 - 98 pounds
Weight Female:
24 - 29 kg
52 - 64 pounds
34 - 44 kg
74 - 98 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
9 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 12
1 - 15
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
English Bull Terrier, Gladiator, White Cavalier
Alsatian, Alsatian wolf dog, Berger Allemand, Deutscher Schaferhund, Schaferhund
Colors Available:
White, Tan, Brindle, tri-color
Black and Tan, Sable, Bicolor, Black and White
Coat:
Short and smooth
dense and thick, short, medium thick, thick and fluffy, long, furry around their chest, ears, tail or backs of their legs
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Constant, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Aggressive, Alert, Gentle, Intelligent, Loyal, Outgoing, Protective, Quiet
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Description

Strongly Built and Muscular

bull terrier puppy - descriptionThe Bull Terrier is a strongly built, muscular dog with a distinctive egg-shaped head. The height of this dog is roughly 53 – 61cm and he weighs in at about 24 – 29kg. He has a short, dense coat which comes in different colors such as white, red, fawn and white or brindle.

The ears are medium sized and erect and the eyes are pig-like, small and dark. The medium length tail is carried slightly upwards.

A Temperament of Courage

The Bull Terrier is a determined, strong-willed, stubborn dog and he will require firm handling and training. With socialization and training, he becomes a friendly, loving dog who is good around children.

He tends to be possessive with his human family and their territory, making him aggressive with other pets. Bull Terriers actually have even temperaments and they are good, social dogs with people. He is courageous, brave, full of spirit and character.

german shepherd puppy - descriptionThe GSD is very good for being a watchdog and hence it do not welcome guests to home. But when trained from a puppy it will suit itself for making new friends. GSD like to be always with somebody and they can be its master or his family members or else its partner. The GSD is very intelligent and active hence they should be always kept busy, exercised and playing. Nowadays many of them are trained well and made as four legged stars.

When we see all around the world many of them are involved in helping the physically challenged people. Also they are very important personnels in working with police and military for finding the criminals. Their excellent sniffing power works very good when given proper training for finding illegal smuggling. But basically the breed was set in to herd the sheep and protect them from predators.

Based on the popularity they are ranked 2nd in US and 4th in UK.

Characteristics

bull terrier dog - characteristicsThe way people bring their dogs up has a lot to do with the way they turn out. The Bull Terrier has often been thought to be a dangerous dog, but this is because of a bad upbringing.

A dog like the Bull Terrier who has received firm, fair and loving training is an absolute pleasure to have as a pet. Yes, he is a strong willed, stubborn and intelligent dog and he has the make-up to turn out to be a handful. It is perhaps why he isn't the best choice for first-time dog owners who aren’t familiar with the breed and who don’t raise him the right way.

If you choose a Bull Terrier, bring him up correctly, have him trained and socialized and never neglect him and he is guaranteed to become a wonderful, loving family member.

Children friendliness

german shepherd dog - characteristicsThe GSD is a very good child friendly dog, they love to play with kids.

Adaptability

They adopts both hot and cold climates, but they like cold weather very much and also their body is suitable for cold than hot.

Learning ability

The GSD has high ability to learn tricks and also they are interested in learning. As they have very high intelligence they learn very easily and quickly.

Health Problems

bull terrier puppies - health problemsYour Bull Terrier is a robust breed, but there are some health issues that you will want to be aware of. For instance, the white Bull Terrier is more prone to deafness than the Brindle or tri-colored Bull Terriers. With good food and lots of love and care, he can reach 14 years of age. However there are one or two ailments what you want to be aware of.

Patellar Luxation:

This is a common orthopedic condition with dogs, affecting both knees and resulting in loss of function and discomfort. Patellar luxation can sometimes come from a traumatic injury to the knee. However, with non-traumatic patellar luxation, the femoral groove for the knee cap is shallow or absent.

Skin Cancer:

Not every variety of skin cancer in dogs is caused by sun exposure, but sun damage to the skin of the pure white Bull Terrier can be a factor. Dogs with white coats are more susceptible to sun damage. Speak to your vet about symptoms so that a physical examination will reveal the reason for sores on the skin.

german shepherd puppies - health problemsThe GSD has the chances for getting orthopaedic diseases such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Other common orthopaedic problems which affects GSD are Panosteitis, Osteochondritis and cruciate ligament rupture.They also get some skin problems such as allergies and pyoderma. Digestive problems such as chronic diarrhea and colitis are also seen in GSD.

Hair fall

GSD is a continuous shedder. They are having a two layer coat. They should be brushed daily as it will remove the dead fur and thus prevents shedding.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

bull terrier dogs - caringThe Bull Terrier is a stocky, robust breed and he will need plenty of exercise. He thrives on a good run, long walks and ball games. He is notoriously destructive, so you need to recognize this before you buy such a dog, because simply putting one in your back-yard and ignoring him will make him aggressive and destructive. This is a dog that needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise.

Grooming:

With the short coat, Bull Terriers are easy to groom, and a brushing twice a week will keep the coat in tip top condition. He will also love the time you spend with him. Shedding of hair with the Bull Terrier is more frequent in the Spring and Fall.

Nail clipping and brushing of teeth are two other grooming routines for your dog. Remember that with teeth brushing, don’t be tempted to use human toothpaste as this can be toxic for your pet. Speak to your vet if in any doubt about how to brush your pet’s teeth.

german shepherd dogs - caringThe GSD should be given an cool environment which they will enjoy a lot.

Feeding the puppy

The GSD puppy should be fed small quantities of food but several times per day as it needs to gain 2 gms weight per day. The preferred food for them is dry food along with raw liver pieces which would provide them excellent energy. The protein food given to puppy should contain 25 to 30% calories. Puppies consume more food when compared with adults.

Feeding the adult

The GSD needs a food which has a considerable amount of protein. They are carnivores in the nature. The protein can be given from cooked meat. The artificial food products will not be suitable for them. When are provided with protein food they will gain fat from itself. The recommended fat content for GSD is 5% to 8%.

Points for Good Health

The GSD should be provided with a nutritional food for their good health.

Games and Exercises

Physical exercises are very much needed for GSD since they are very energetic and power packed. It is highly recommended to make them play and run daily as they don't need to get bored. They can be made to climb in hilly areas as they want to explore their surroundings. They can be made to swim or play hide and seek and find the missing objects. Regular morning walk will be very good for them.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Bull Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Bull Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Bull Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  4. Bull Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  5. Bull Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Bull Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Schnauzer vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Fox Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Bull and Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  10. Irish Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Fox Terrier (Smooth) vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  12. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Lakeland Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Jagdterrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Indian Bull Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Irish Bull Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Japanese Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Brazilian Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Old English Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Scoland Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Skye Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Welsh Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. Akbash Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Abruzzenhund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Briard vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  30. Rough Collie vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  31. Bouvier des Flandres vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. East German Shepherd vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Saarlooswolfhond vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. Estrela Mountain Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. Huntaway vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  36. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  37. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  38. South Russian Ovcharka vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  39. Mioritic Sheepdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  40. Siberian Husky vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  41. Golden Retriever vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  42. Rottweiler vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. American Bully vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Boxer vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  45. Akita vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  46. Doberman Pinscher vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  47. Samoyed vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  48. Labradoodle vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  49. Cane Corso vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Alaskan Malamute vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds